Casket-handle.



J. P. FOLEY.

CASKET HANDLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYII. I916.

132,97. Patented 0m. 31, 1916.

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JOHN P. FOLEY, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

CASKET-HANDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Application filed May 11, 1916. Serial No. 96,868.

- ticularly to that type or class thereof used ignates I an on burial-caskets.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a novel connecting-arm for the escutcheon-plate and handle-bar, the improvements being directed'more particularly toward the structural peculiarities thereof.

Another object is to provide novel features in that portion of the escutcheon plate which is engaged by said arm.

The principal object, therefore, is to generally improve the construction and increase the utility and efliciency of both members of devices of this character.

It is greatly to be preferred, not only in order to provide great strength combined with lightness and attractive appearance, but for numerous other. reasons, that handles of this nature be made of sheetmetal, and in the accompanying drawings I have shown a structure of that material.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the escutcheon-plate, one of the connecting or hanger-arms in position and the other omitted, and a fragment of the handlebar; Fig. 2, a perspective of the hanger-arm; Fig. 3, a vertical section, taken in the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, an end detail of the hanger-arm, a fragment of the handle-bar being shown also.

Considering the drawings in detail and indicating each element and, where necessary, each part thereof, by a distinguishing reference numeral, uniformly employed, 2 desescutcheon plate preferably formed from sheet-metal and the particular general shape or outline of which is immaterial. It is provided with openings 3, lips 4: and 5, and oppositely directed tongues 6, all adjacent said openings.

The hanger-arms 7 are die-cut and dieformed from sheet-metal and, like the plate 2, are preferably of sheet-steel, in order that the greatest strength and rigidity may be attained. After being formed, the general cross-sectional outline of each arm is arcuate. Being identical, or duplicates, a description of one will suflice. Each has at its inner end parallel ears 8 provided with register ing apertures S in which the tongues 6 are inserted. An arcuate slit is cut by the forming die, substantially at the midlength of the arm and the relatively outer portions are then bent down to provide a clip portion 9 and a projection 10, the latter resulting from not turning down that portion of the metal which lay within the boundaries of the slit. 11 indicates the resultant aperture. The continuation of the portion 9 is bent to form clip-portions 12 and 13, and the terminal 16 is brought down to lie between the cheeks 14 and is held positioned by tongues 15. The portions 9, 12 and 13 constitute a handlebar-engaging clip 21, and if the handle bar 17 be incurved or indented along its sides these portions are preferably bent as shown in Fig. 3 to correspond therewith, whereby to cause the clip to firmly clasp said bar.

When the arm 7 is raised to its weightsustaining position the lip 4L constitutes a weight-sustaining projection against which the flattened top 18 of the inner end of the ar 2 bears, whereby a greater weight may be sustained without distorting or tearing the metal adjacent it, than could if said lip were omitted and the arm-top 18 bore against a raw edge, such as indicated at 19. Moreover, the portion '18 will bear against said lip 4 without marring or defacing the plating or other finish. on said arm. The lip 5 both reinforces the metal immediately below it and causes a smooth edge to be pre sented. It will be noted that when the handle 17 and arm 7 are raised to casket-carrying positions the arm-top 18 bears directly upward-or in the direction of greatest resistanceon the plate 2, thus avoiding the backward thrust or thrust at right angles to the general plane of the plate, which backward thrust is likely to result in distortion of the latter and even in tearing off the hanger-arms.

In drawing a casket from a hearse, and at some other times, the pull is longitudinally with reference to the hanger-arms. In this operation reliance need not be placed altogether upon the tongues 6, for the hooks 25 will be drawn against the solid body of the plate 2.

By cutting the slit which results in the opening 11 in the clip portion 9 I facilitate bending the clip 21 accurately and expeditiously. In handles of this character it is important that they be of an attractive appearance. I have therefore sought to avoid the square or otherwise angular and therefore unattractive terminal-clip of preceding hangers, and instead thereof provide the projection 10 which not only adds refine ment and attractiveness to the arm but obscures the said angular clip, the unfinished appearance of which would be similar to the clip 21 were said projection 10 omitted, Another advantage is that this feature is attained economically and with facility, for there is no waste of metal, no additional operation, and no extra labor.

It will be evident without further description or illustration that an escutcheon plate having a single aperture, and a single hangerarm may be used when desired, as on very small caskets, in the usual manner.

Having thus described the nature of the invention I claim as new the following, to-Wit:

1. The combination with a handlebar, of a hanger-arm including a clip bent therefrom and adapted to embrace said bar, one portion of said arm being slitted and the resultant portion afi'ording a projection extending beyond the clip.

2. The combination with a handle-bar, of a hanger-arm including a clip bent therefrom and adapted to embrace said bar, one portion of the clip being slitted and the resultant unbent portion affording a projection which extends substantially in the gen eral plane of the body of the arm.

3. The combination with a handle-bar, of a hanger-arm including a body portion and a clip portion, the latter bent from the body portion and adapted to embrace said bar, that portion of the clip which forms the outer end thereof being slitted and the material which is defined by said slit left unbent and lying in the same general plane with the body portion.

4-. An escutcheon-plate havin an aperture into which extend a pair of oppositely directed tongues, and having also a bearinglip at the upper edge of said aperture and an integral reinforce-lip at the lower edge thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 8th day of May, 1916.

JOHN P. FOLEY.

Copieso! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Comminioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

